"Why are you back Peyton?" Karen asked as she sat on the bed.
"Because I needed to see Alex. I'm not trying to take her from Haley…I just really need to see her." Peyton felt the tears start again and soon she tasting the salt on her lips.
"You mean from Lucas" Karen looked up and watched as the blonde turned around.
"How long?"
"She only stayed with Haley that first night she was here. She met Lucas and found out who he was the next day and she been living with him since." Karen noticed the small smiled on Peyton's face. Something was preventing the older woman from getting angry. Sure she was upset about what Peyton did, but somehow that young blonde still held a place in her heart.
"Is she happy…I mean…does she like it here…is she comfortable?" Peyton eyes glazed over again and soon the water slid down her cheeks. Her eyes held fright in them but Karen gave a warm smile and patter the open area next to her on the bed.
"Come sit down Peyton." The young girl obeyed and sat uncomfortably next to the woman.
"Please tell me how she is" the blonde begged as a knot formed in her throat. She looked longingly at Karen, hoping that she wouldn't be shut out of her daughter's life.
"Peyton…." Karen rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Alex is doing fine. She and Lucas have a great connection and everyone here loves her. The only problem is that she missed her mother." Karen raised an eyebrow as she caught Peyton's eye for a brief second. Karen titled Peyton chin back up with her finger. "Peyton what happened?"
"Can we not…please…I just…Karen I can't." The tears started again, not that they ever stopped, they had just gotten worse.
"Okay…we leave the past in the past. What happened this morning?" Karen rested her hand on the blonde's leg.
"Nothing…I just started thinking and…it was nothing" she forced a smile as she looked up at the older women. The only person she would be able to talk to was Haley, but Haley wouldn't be willing to listen anymore. Haley hated her now and she would do anything to change that.
"They'll come around…she'll come around" Karen spoke gently. "If I tell her to come talk to you will you be okay with that." Karen asked quietly. Peyton still found it amazing that Karen knew what was going through her head.
"She won't come" she responded sadly.
"I'll get her to come and if not then you can just go visit her" Karen wrapped her arms around the blonde, but Peyton didn't return the hug, it just felt to awkward.
"Thank you Karen"
"I'll see you around Peyton" with that she left the room. She was determined to find out what was going on and the only was to do that was through Haley. The girl had a way of coercing things out of people. Karen laughed to herself as she retreated back to the café in hope of talking Haley into going to the hotel.
"So did you talk to her" Haley asked as soon as Karen walked through the door.
"Yes and I think you should go over there and talk to her now." Karen made her way behind the counter and was surprised to see Haley drop the rag and reach for her jacket.
"I'd love to" Haley spat bitterly as she made her way towards the door.
"She's in 419 at the hotel." Karen informed the determined brunette. "Haley don't scream and yell please. Just talk to her…something's wrong. I think you should find out what before you jump down her throat"
"Yeah sure" Haley responded as the café door closed behind her.